Understanding the impact of endocrine disruptors

You apply a cream, wear a new outfit, enjoy the scent of a perfume... and without realising it, you are exposing your body to substances that can disrupt your hormones. These substances are called endocrine disruptors.

In this article, shinncare explains where they hide, how they affect your health, and how to protect yourself from them on a daily basis. By the end of this article, endocrine disruptors will no longer be a mystery to you!

What are endocrine disruptors?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), endocrine disruptors are ‘chemical substances foreign to the body that can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system, thereby inducing deleterious effects on the body or its descendants’.

These are substances, chemical or natural, that disturb the endocrine system, also known as the hormonal system, in all species (humans, animals, plants).

There are three categories of possible endocrine disruptors (ED):

· Intentionally created substances that influence hormones, such as contraceptives.

· Man-made chemicals created for other purposes, such as solidifying plastics, but which can have an unintended effect on our hormonal system.

· Natural compounds found in plants, which can disrupt hormones particularly when consumed in excess doses

Where are endocrine disruptors likely to be found?

Endocrine disruptors are virtually everywhere, in packaging, cosmetics and food, as well as in natural environments such as air, water and soil, mainly as a result of human contamination.

We are therefore constantly exposed to small quantities of endocrine disruptors throughout our lives.

We can ingest endocrine disruptors in four different ways:

· Orally, by ingesting food contaminated with EDs,

· Through the skin, by applying cosmetics or touching tissues containing EDs

· Via the respiratory system if EDs are present in the air or in perfumes

Before birth through the placenta

How do they act?

EDs have three modes of action:

· By binding to hormone receptors, stopping the real hormones from doing their job,

· By disrupting hormone production affecting the organs and enzymes that release hormones,

· By altering sensitivity or the expression of hormone receptors, thereby increasing or decreasing their activity.

An ED can combine these modes of action, acting at different levels of the hormonal system.

What are the risks?

Endocrine disruptors are suspected to be involved in the development of various health conditions [hormone-dependent cancers in women, prostate cancer in men, puberty and thyroid disorders…].

Emerging evidence also suggests they may contribute to conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, although the links are less clear.

In addition, EDs can have ‘epigenetic’ effects (for example by affecting DNA methylation and histone modification), meaning that their consequences on the body can be passed on to future generations. For example, DES, the main compound in a medication prescribed to pregnant women between 1948 and 1977 to prevent premature births, was found to cause reproductive system abnormalities that could be passed down through three generations.

Some endocrine disruptors, when ingested individually, may seem harmless in small doses. However, when combined with other disruptors, their effects can be cumulative and dangerous. This phenomenon is known as the ‘cocktail effect’.

These illnesses can occur years after exposure to EDs, a phenomenon known as the ‘delayed effect’.

When are we most vulnerable?

Critical periods are the times in our lives when we are most vulnerable to EDs and when they have the strongest effect. Particular attention must therefore be paid during :

· Pregnancy: many EDs can cross the placenta – such as bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins etc – and reach the developing fetus, leading to risks of premature birth, low birth weight, and metabolic changes predisposing to diabetes and obesity.

· Early childhood: Exposure to EDs in early childhood can have consequences decades later, due to the delay effect explained above.

· Adolescence and puberty in particular: Hormonal changes are numerous during this period and make the body especially sensitive to disruption.

How to protect yourself from endocrine disruptors?

On a daily basis :

There are simple everyday steps you can take to limit your exposure to EDs:

· Ventilate your home regularly

· Avoid using insecticides

· Favour cleaning products with an environmental label

· Use glass, stainless steel and cast iron instead of plastic

· Avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave

· Choose clothes made from natural fibres

In the bathroom:

The main endocrine disruptors in cosmetic products are parabens, which act as preservatives, alkylphenols as emulsifiers and silicones.

To avoid using products containing EDs, you can:

· Choose products with fewer ingredients

· Favour products with the Ecocert COSMOS label

· Check the composition of your products using applications such as INCI Beauty or Yuka

· Avoid scented products

· Spray your perfumes with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing the EDs released into the air

Did you know? All shinncare products and packaging are certified Ecocert COSMOS and most are rated 20/20 on INCI Beauty and 100/100 on Yuka. Plus, our intimate oil spray protect & repair has been tested on babies’ skin They are also all available in a fragrance-free version. So you can use them with peace of mind!